We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them.

Dog Training

Have dog training questions? Ask a dog trainer.

Connect one-on-one with {0} who will answer your question

By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them.

I have 4 dogs, one of which is extremely jealous when others…

Second opinion] I have...

Second opinion] I have 4 dogs, one of which is extremely jealous when others are given attention, to the point there have been some severe dog fights. I was thinking of re-homing him but if there is a way to address this behavior, I would rather keep him. 3 of the dogs are pit bulls, the other is a chow/lab mix. It is one of the younger pits with the issue.

Veterinarian's Assistant: I'll do all I can to help. Strange behavior is often perplexing. I'm sure the Dog Trainer can help you.

You've said the same thing before yet nothing progressed, am I supposed to be doing more to get an answer?

Veterinarian's Assistant: What is the dog's name?

Rosco

Veterinarian's Assistant: Is there anything else important you think the Dog Trainer should know about Rosco?

One of the other dogs is his brother, the other pit is his mother. When he was young, he was my daughters dog and she went away with him but then she couldn't take care of him so he came back to us.

Hello and welcome. My name is ***** ***** I have been in the dog field for 25 years. I am a Therapy Dog & AKC Evaluator/trainer/ as well as an assistance/service dog trainer, specializing in behavior. It will be my pleasure to help you today. I am working on your question now. It may take a few minutes for me to type a personal response or type questions regarding your situation. Your patience is very much appreciated.

How long was the dog gone from your home?

How long has it been back?

You mention jealousy, I want to know how the dog is when it has a valued item, bone, toy, food etc. and one of the other dogs tries to take it away.

What have you tried so far with this dog?

Ask Your Own Dog Training Question

Customer reply replied 1 month ago

My daughter lived with us in the beginning, then moved out with him for about 6-8 months, then was in a bad accident and moved back but the whole while she lived with us, she was in the lower level of the house and he was always with her. He interacted with us occasionally. Probably spent a total of a year with my daughter before she moved away and he was here without her. So he is now 4 so he's been back with us for a few years. We didn't start having problems until another one of his brothers moved back in with us about a year after that. We used to be able to let Rosco, Blue (the brother we had from birth) and Abby (mom) out together all the time and they would run and play together. Then when Lucian came back (the other brother) Rosco started with him. We let them both out together and they got in a terrible fight, initiated by Rosco. So from that point on, we didn't let them out together. Next time he and Blue were out together, the same thing happened. So we stopped letting the dogs out together. We didn't have any issues inside. Then a couple of months ago, Blue and Rosco got in a fight inside. I can't remember what started it but we got them apart. Then my daughter just moved back a couple of months ago with 2 more pit bulls in tow. She lives on the lower level. She was walking her female on a leash and Rosco was out and he fought her female. A couple of days later, he and Blue fought again. He is the type that if I am petting one of my other dogs, he forces himself between me and the other dog. So there are a lot of factors but he is the only one exhibiting the aggressive behavior. I've always given my dogs treats at the same time and they have always just sat there and taken turns so I have never had issues with that. I keep 4 dog food bowls down all the time and there has never been a fight over food either.

Thank you for that information. It sounds like a confusing life for all with the comings and goings.

Dogs that like to be on the top of the heap will often reprimand other dogs in the home and this may be what you are seeing. I would have a trainer come in and give the dog a temperament test. This can show you where the dog thinks it is in life compared to the other dogs.

I would also put the dog starting the fights on the learn to earn program so it puts you more at the top. I would also do daily training with this dog to further your status.

There is too much confusion of dogs coming and going, even though your daughter is down stairs, these dogs share a lot of things, just not the same space at the same time.

This could also be the cause of the other dog to be acting up. He can't get control over your daughter's dogs when he wants, so he is taking control over the dogs he is living with.

I had a dog given back to me and was suddenly after 3 years living with his mom, dad, brother and sister. He came in confused , not knowing his place and it took six months of daily training before he was acclimated into the family again. Until that happened non of the dogs were kept in the same area of the house so as to limit fights. The mom and sister were gated in the kitchen, the father in the bedroom and the brother in the den. Then as the troublemaker became better trained , I reintroduced them one by one and kept play times separate where he would play with just one other dog outside. ONce they get in a group mentality all heck can break loose. It is better to get some training under the dog's belt before trying to bring them all together.

There are dogs that have a perfectly happy personality that can blend in anywhere and then there are those that need a little tweeking of the rules before brought into the pack.

My daughter just reminded me that he was only gone for about 3 months and he was so sad they left our house that she brought him back. But he was out visiting with her one time and another dog attacked him, that is when his aggression seemed to start.Thank you!

I have 4 dogs, one of which is extremely jealous when others are given attention, to the point there have been some severe dog fights. I was thinking of re-homing him but if there is a way to address … read more

Just adopted a dog-we have 3 cats-low growl at them yesterday-today he went after 2 of them unprovoked. Excessively stares at them, low - growling, ears up, tail up high and lunged baring teeth-nose s… read more

I have a 1 1/12 old golden retriever been fixed and I have a rescued pit bull mix that it turning one this month. We have had him since May 2016. My pit bull wants to none stop play and my golden does… read more

I adopted a new puppy on Friday. He is a 6 month old pit bull who was neutered on 2/14. He was abused by his first owner and was emaciated and had to have his left back leg amputated in January. I als… read more

I have a adult dog and recently rescued a 3 year old English bull dog/pit bull who was chained out side and only fed once a week. My older dog and the new dog are always fighting and the younger dog h… read more

Iown a Bichon who is sassy like most small dogs i also have a 5 month old pitt bull the bichon snaped the pitt ll evough the other day to cause a fight witch the pitt bull did a lot chon how can i ren… read more

My daughter and her boyfriend have two female pitbulls. One has been spayed (but only recently at the age of 3) the other soon to (had a littler of pups that are now gone) They are aggressive to each … read more

Are biggest dog attacks the other (smaller) dogs, violently, like out to kill, in our home, forcing us to keep them separate at all times. The only solution appears to be to get rid of the big dog, an… read more

i have 5 dogs . the mother, two brothers from a litter who are 3 yrs old, and a brother and sister from a litter who are 1 1/2 yrs. They are 3/4 Pom and 1/4 chihuahua. They play together and have had … read more

Hi there, we have three german shepherds. One we purchased as a pup after our first passed away at 9 years old from myosarcoma. Anyway, we have since rescued to further GSD's, both boys, both desexed,… read more

Grammy of two pit bulls, These two dogs have been fine until this past week. They have been fighting when my son is around, to the point that they both needed staples. We need a home, a trainer, and p… read more

Hello, I have an 8 year old dachshund (Prince), a 4 year old golden retriever (Max), a 4 year old dachshund XXXXX XXXXX mix (Layla), and my daughter brought home a pit bull/bull dog mix puppy (Milo). … read more

Hi, I live in a building and eveyone has dogs. My neighbor has a pit bull that is 2 years old and weighs 65-70 lbs and tooo playful. My neighbor is a social worker and half deaf and says she needs a b… read more

Morning, I have 3 dogs currently living in my home. 9 year old yellow female lab, 2 year old male daschund mix, 10 month old mail pit bull. The pit bull came into the home as a puppy (8 weeks old). Th… read more

I have a 6 yr. old Shorkie (altered female)I have had since she was weaned and a 9 month old American Pit Bull Terrier (altered female) we adopted from a shelter at the age of 4 months. The Shorkie is… read more

My two female pit bulls just attacked each other out of the blue.....They are mother and daughter and have been together all their lives. The mother is about 8 and the daughter about 6. I did not see … read more

My 3 year old female pitbull mix has suddently become aggressive with our small male dog since we adopted 2 4 month old chow-mix pupplies. She has attacked him twice causing severe wounds to his neck.… read more

am a airedale terrier breeder for show ring. have 4 yr bitch that whelped 1 litter of which we kept 1 bitch. both mother and daughter very demanding of attention, lots of barking and obsession with to… read more

Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.

JustAnswer in the News:

Ask-a-doc Web sites: If you've got a quick question, you can try to get an answer from sites that say they have various specialists on hand to give quick answers... Justanswer.com.

JustAnswer.com...has seen a spike since October in legal questions from readers about layoffs, unemployment and severance.

I will tell you that...the things you have to go through to be an Expert are quite rigorous.

What Customers are Saying:

I must tell you I found this site by accident and was amazed when I asked a question of the Veteranians online. I wish I could have found it sooner it could have made such a difference in the outcome of my pet's surgery. However, I am passing along the information to my sister-in-law (a cat-rescue person who is also a nurse), and perhaps it will help someone else who may experience the same problem.
The doctor who answered my question was amazing, and while it didn't come it time to change the outcome of my situation, it is reassuring to know the caliber of Vets/Doctors that you have at JustAnswer. Thank you for being there.

Alice H.Jacksonville, Fl.

Wonderful service, prompt, efficient, and accurate. Couldn't have asked for more. I cannot thank you enough for your help.

Mary C.Freshfield, Liverpool, UK

This expert is wonderful. They truly know what they are talking about, and they actually care about you. They really helped put my nerves at ease. Thank you so much!!!!

AlexLos Angeles, CA

Thank you for all your help. It is nice to know that this service is here for people like myself, who need answers fast and are not sure who to consult.

GPHesperia, CA

I couldn't be more satisfied! This is the site I will always come to when I need a second opinion.

JustinKernersville, NC

Just let me say that this encounter has been entirely professional and most helpful. I liked that I could ask additional questions and get answered in a very short turn around.

EstherWoodstock, NY

Thank you so much for taking your time and knowledge to support my concerns. Not only did you answer my questions, you even took it a step further with replying with more pertinent information I needed to know.

RobinElkton, Maryland

< Previous | Next >

Meet the Experts:

Pawsitivtrainr

Dog Trainer

145 satisfied customers

35+ years Training Dogs

agilityaddict

Pet Trainer

92 satisfied customers

20 years experience training dogs in obedience and agility, current 4-H agility superintendent

Service /assistance dog trainer,Therapy dog evaluator and trainer, AKC evaluator, pet first aide and member of PAS Animal Response Team.

< Previous | Next >

Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.